Digest Week 3 Michaelmas Term 2019

Mereology of Potentiality Reading Group - The Powers Metaphysic (Neil Williams) | 17.00 - 18.30 | Refugee Scholars Room, Corpus Christi College

A weekly reading group on Neil Williams' new book The Powers Metaphysic (OUP 2019). At each meeting, one member of the group will introduce a chapter with some comments/questions they want to raise for the group, which will be discussed during the meeting.

On Tuesday 29th, Giacomo Giannini will be presenting the 5th chapter of the book.

Attendance is open to all. (If you’d like to sign up to present at the reading group for a later week, please use the form linked here to provide your name and email, along with the dates/chapters you would be interested in presenting on: https://forms.gle/DcZkunXG4WsVzXc98)

If you have any questions, please email either Andrea roselli.uniroma3@gmail.com or Christopher christopherja@gmail.com and we'd be happy to help.

For more information, visit https://www.power-parts.website/

Comparative Methodologies Discussion Group | 19.00 - 21.00 | Ryle Room, Radcliffe Humanities

This reading group aims to explore what comparative philosophy is, and how to do it. There is an increasing awareness of the value of dialogue between different traditions on a wide range of philosophical topics. However, there is a lack of consensus on what the aims of comparative philosophy are, and how it ought to be conducted. Worries have been raised about the potential pitfalls of comparative work, such as a tendency to assume the primacy of one tradition over the other. But what would it mean to take a “balanced approach” in response to this worry? Is there an external standpoint from which we can do comparative philosophy? What, if anything, is global philosophy? The reading group will centre on four readings covering a range of traditions that will address these questions.

More information, including readings: https://www.facebook.com/events/395978474627352/

When: Tuesdays on Odd Weeks, 7-9pm

Where: Ryle Room, Faculty of Philosophy (Radcliffe Humanities)

Dr Daniel Hill (Liverpool): Does God Intend that Sin Occur? We Affirm | 20.15 | Miles Room, St Peter's College

'In this paper we discuss the question whether God intends that sin occur. We clarify the question, consider some of the answers given in the Christian tradition, and give a careful commentary on a few especially telling passages from the Christian Scriptures. We consider two philosophically informed interpretative strategies, one derived from the work of Frances Kamm, the other from Reformed scholasticism, against our interpretation of these passages. While we concede that in other passages such interpretations may allow a way of escaping our argument, we conclude that in the case of the telling passages we have selected there is simply no comparably plausible alternative interpretation.'

This event is hosted by The Joseph Butler Society and is open to all members of the university and their guests.

Mereology of Potentiality Work-in-Progress Seminar | 11.30 - 13.00 | Refugee Scholars Room, Corpus Christi College

30th October: Damiano Costa - Temporal existence

For more information, visit https://www.power-parts.website/

Normative Ethics Reading Group | 15.00 - 17.00 | Ryle Room, Radcliffe Humanities

A weekly reading and discussion group for topics in normative ethics and decision theory. Some weeks involve a faculty member from Oxford or elsewhere presenting some of their recent or in-progress work. Contact Tomi Francis at tomi.francis@philosophy.ox.ac.uk for details.

Hegel Reading Group | 18.30 | Ryle Room, Radcliffe Humanities

We shall continue reading the Phenomenology of Spirit.

31 October – The actualisation of rational self-consciousness §§ 347–359.

Please contact susanne.herrmann-sinai@philosophy.ox.ac.uk for information. See also the website with general information www.hegel.moonfruit.com.

Peter Hacker: The Nature of Evil | 17.30 | Tanner Room, Linacre College

The concept of evil is elucidated. The varieties of badness are briefly surveyed and evil is distinguished from badness and from wickedness. The reality of evil is defended against those who think the concept to be obsolete. Neuroscientific reduction of evil is repudiated. The relationship between evil and motivation is examined and what counts as understanding evil is adumbrated. The connection between evil doing and the death of the soul is clarified.

This event is open to everyone and no sign up is required. For more information, please contact Jo Whitfield (jo.whitfield@linacre.ox.ac.uk)

Mereology of Potentiality Work-in-Progress Seminar | 11.30 - 13.00 | Refugee Scholars Room, Corpus Christi College

1st November: Damiano Costa - Temporal existence

Please note that this is part of a series of four lectures taking place on: 23, 25, 30 October and 1 November.

For more information, visit https://www.power-parts.website/